How to Protect Yourself From Phishing Email Attacks
Phishing is a form of cyberattack that uses email as a weapon. It involves sending emails that are intended to get you to click a link or download an attachment, which could lead to malware on your computer.
The origin of the term “phishing” isn’t clear, but it could be a portmanteau of fish and phony. The process of performing a phishing scam is similar to fishing, where an attacker assembles a baited hook and then throws it out to try to catch you.
Threat actors use phishing attacks to gather information about their target and use it for espionage or other malicious purposes. This is called spear phishing, and it’s often done to people who have access to high-value information. In early 2016, it was used by a Russian military intelligence group to hack the Gmail account of Hillary Clinton’s campaign manager, John Podesta.
It can also be used to steal money from the victim’s bank accounts, credit card numbers, and other sensitive data. For instance, it was common in the 2000s for criminals to spoof websites for PayPal and eBay, directing customers to fake sites that stole their credit card and other personal information.
Phishing is a dangerous form of cyberattack that’s getting more sophisticated by the day, but there are steps you can take to protect yourself from it. First, install and keep your security software up-to-date to identify phishing attacks. Then, educate yourself on phishing trends and countermeasures.